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This paper describes control system and psychological concepts enabling the development of a simulation model suitable for use in emulating driver performance in situations involving the longitudinal control of the distance and headway-time to a preceding vehicle. The developed model has mathematical expressions and relationships pertaining to the driver's skill in operating the brake and accelerator (“inverse dynamics”) and the driver's perceptual and decision-making capabilities (“desired dynamics”). Simulation results for driving situations involving braking and accelerating are presented to aid in understanding the research work.

A linear mathematical model is developed for studying the directional response and yaw stability of many-axled, multi-articulated tanker trucks. Analytical results obtained from the model provide an understanding of (1) the factors leading to unstable lateral responses of double tankers when only the rear compartment of the rear (pup) trailer is loaded and (2) the likelihood of rollover of the pup trailer in obstacle-avoidance maneuvers on the highway. Rigidizing the connection at the pintle hook is found to improve the directional performance of the double tanker.